The Israeli Draw is a pistol technique in which the pistol is carried holstered, with a magazine loaded and an empty chamber. When engaged the operator daws the pistol to the center of the body, at the same time moving his weak leg apart and his weak hand to meet the pistol. The pistol reaches the weak hand at the center of the body at shoulder height, horizontal to the ground. The weak hand grabs the slide and the strong hand pushes the pistol forward and rotates it in a pointing motion. The weak hand than joins the strong hand and the pistol.

This is the most common shooting position in Israel. Some of the more elite police and military units carry their pistols with a round in the chamber, but other than that everyone practices the "Israeli Draw". It seems that the main advantage is saftey, with houndreds of thousands of pistols being arried in the streets on a daily basis, and most people carrying them not being highly trained for firearm use. The main disadvantage is of course a 0.2-0.8 second delay(depending on the user, in my case i would have to say around 0.5) in releasing the first shot. It is basically illegal in Israel to carry a weapon with a chambered round...

So I was wondering...Anyone else uses this method? If so, why?

I've heard about it and stuff but I wasn't really trained with pistols so I wouldn't know. Seems like a nice thing to know but as for chambered round safety, how would you rate this pistol?

HK P7

Supposed to be a safe pistol intended for police officers. Basically unless you grabbed the handle to depress the safety button it wouldn't fire.
That could save you time.

Israel's got some pretty interesting pistol techniques. I remember seeing the "kata" style Israeli tactical pistol shooting some time ago.

of course a pistol like that is safer to carry chambered, but most pistols used by private organizations arnt HK....We have CZ, FN, Jericho etc...

Nope..... not popular here in the States. We simply carry our weapons loaded. Reason being is that you might not have time to charge your weapon or worse.... you might be disabled and not be able to charge it but can still fire it.

CZ, FN, and the Jericho are 100% safe far carrying a round in the chamber with the safety off. They're all double action pistols (except a FN Hi-Power). They were designed to be carried with a round in the chamber. The long heavier trigger pull for the first shot (Double Action) is designed to prevent a miss fire.

Yeah I know. Thats why I was wondering about other places. I wouldent feel right with a chambered round, but that IDF training speaking, we rarely chamber a round unless we are in very specific areas.

When the 1911A1 was the issued service pistol it was carried in conditions:

Condition-3 empty no mag

Condition-2 Mag no round chambered

Condition 3- cocked and looked safety on

For most armed details the pistol was carried in condition 2, and we were taught the Israeli Draw (in some units). Conditions eventually went by the wayside when the M9 was introduced.

Some instructors teach the draw but as a rule most people here carry hot, even with the M1911A1 and Hi-Power type pistols. I carry a M1911A1 as a duty weapon and it's carried hot everyday.

I carry a Colt 1911, always cocked and locked, my son carries a CZ75 with a round in the chamber, the safety off and the hammer at rest.


I am a fan of single action as I can (if I have to) rapidly bring the weapon into action, and there is no difference in the point of impact between the first and second round. The thing I dislike about the CZ75 is being double action for the first shot and single action for the second changing the point of impact. But despite this, the CZ75 is a superb, reliable and accurate pistol.

The South African Police carry the Z88 which is the South African copy of the Beretta 92, also carry with a loaded magazine, empty chamber and safety engaged, despite the fact that the weapon can be carried safely with a chambered round. They call it "The Israeli Carry."

Really? thats strange. We NEVER engage the saftey.

Originally Posted by SHERMAN

Really? thats strange. We NEVER engage the saftey.

To be honest, from what I have seen regarding the South African Police and their weapon safety and handling, I'm not impressed at all. I had a woman copper with her male partner come into the shop where she asked if we had a holster to fit her Z88. She removed her weapon and placed it on the counter after removing the magazine. She was asked to "Make Safe." She didnt know what I was talking about. Her partner had to make the weapon safe for her.

if you carry a pistol like the CZ75 with a magzine loaded and an empty chamber engaging the saftey is rather silly. The chance of a pistol being cocked un-intentionally is very very slim. On the other hand if you draw under pressure there is a good chance you will forget to disengage the saftey...I can get the idea of carrying chambered and saftey engeaged, but not chambered with saftey engaged is b******t.